A PUBLIC meeting chaired by Dr Roden was held in Droitwich Town Hall to discuss forming a hockey club in the Spa. It was agreed that subscriptions be 2/6 (12.5p) a year.

A committee was to be set up to gauge opinion about starting up a town cricket team.

100 years ago

October 5, 1901

was held in Droitwich Town Hall to discuss forming a hockey club in the Spa. It was agreed that subscriptions be 2/6 (12.5p) a year.

A committee was to be set up to gauge opinion about starting up a town cricket team.

VILLAGE wells in Bournheath, near Bromsgrove, were running dry. It was thought new boreholes being dug by East Worcestershire Waterworks Company were responsible.

The cost of laying mains to poor rural areas, such as Bournheath, would ultimately fall on residents who could not afford to pay the charges, the Messenger observed.

THE wives of several notable gentlemen in the Bromsgrove and Droitwich Spa areas launched an appeal for Christmas presents and "comforts" to send out to the troops engaged in the war in South Africa. Pipes, tobacco, handkerchiefs, writing material and plum puddings in sealed metal tins would be most welcome they said.

FANNY, the wife of Joseph Harrison, from St Andrew's Street, Droitwich, appeared before Spa magistrates charged with using obscene language near her home. The bench granted her two weeks' grace to mend her ways, but threatened her that if she came before them again on the same charge she would be severely punished. Droitwich was renowned for its residents' ready use of foul language in public.

THE surveyor to Bromsgrove Rural District Council, Mr Whitmore, was successful in getting his salary raised from £120 to £130 a year. He argued that he was responsible for 166 miles of carriageway, much of it in a poor condition, and the 35 men who maintained it.

He also had to pay their wages and keep the highway accounts. The council agreed to his request, but insisted he now be responsible for overseeing the sewage farms and the emptying of the sewage tanks.

50 years ago

October 6, 1951

BROMSGROVE'S Evergreen Scouts celebrated their 21st birthday by holding a service at the same place, day and time as when they had been founded in the loft at John Green's home, Whitford Hall, in 1930. Four of the original Scouts were present. They were D Berwick, A Hodgetts, R Goodman and C Porter. Later a party was held in the parish hall.

FEARS that his home, Sunnyhill in Chequers Lane, Wychbold, was about to collapse on his family, the owner, Mr Evans, had made a successful plea to Droitwich Rural District Council to be allowed temporary use of a caravan in his garden.

The house was built on top of a brine stream.

THE Midland Red bus company were to run trips from Bromsgrove to Stratford Mop at a return fare of 4/- (20p), Blackpool lights for 17/6 (87p), and Villa Park for the match against Manchester United for 2/6 (12.5p).

MR W SALCUMBE, stationmaster at Bromsgrove since 1942 and who had previously held the same post at Stoke Works since 1923, retired from the railway service after 43 years. He was presented with a gift of a Westminster clock. When he began his career in 1903 passengers carried candles to enable them to read in the carriages after dark and the only form of heating was the footwarmers they carried with them.

25 years ago

October 1, 1975

FORMER Labour Prime Minister Clem Atlee was to visit Bromsgrove on October 16, during which he would make a speech in Crown Close in support of his party's candidate, Donald Chesworth, in the forthcoming General Election.

A DREAM five goal debut by 27-year-old Bobby Hope against Worcester City took Bromsgrove Rovers into the semi-finals of the Worcestershire Senior Cup.

THE average British shopping bill was £2 dearer than a year ago, the magazine Which? claimed. Bromsgrove had been one of 131 towns and villages visited by researchers while compiling the study.

BROMSGROVE was set to get its first museum. Dennis Norton, who owned a collection of antiques and memorabilia at Upton Warren, wanted to move it to Davenall House, in Birmingham Road. In 1968 he had offered his valuable collection to Bromsgrove District Council who had refused it.

CLOSE on 500 residents in Aston Fields had put their signatures to a petition calling for the former wagon works not to be turned into a warehouse estate.

MOTORISTS had to fork out 5p to park their cars all day in Bromsgrove as charges were introduced for the first time. Bromsgrove District Council denied shoppers were likely to go to nearby towns where it was free.

A yearly season ticket cost £5.